Chapter 1

There was a different smell about Tulsa than Chicago. The air was more crisp and had a certain chill to it.

At first, I had trouble getting around the house, I was used to our apartment. Sometimes, I'd forget where my own room was.

"Joy, time for dinner!" My mother called up the stairs for me.

"Okay!" I lifted myself from my chair and moved precariously across my room. I reached the stairs.

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14. 14 steps in all. I held on to the banister the whole way down. I wasn't used to the stairs; our apartment in Chicago had been on the first floor, saving me the energy.

"Is dad home yet?"

"No, he has to stay late today."

"His first week and they're making him stay late?"

"Yes." My mother stated sweetly. I always wished I had a sweet voice like hers. It was so warm, loving. My voice was harsh, and blunt.

"Where's Brian?" I asked, feeling through the air to try and find my chair.

"He's out with some friends of his; he should be back any minute."

"Where'd they go?" I finally found my seat.

"Why do you ask so many questions?" My mother laughed.

I was about to answer but my brother came bursting in the front door.

"Hey, Mom!"

"Go wash up for dinner, it's time to eat." She called back.

"Can Pony eat with us?"

"Who's Pony?"

"My friend."

"Okay, just hurry up, dinner's getting cold."

"This is Pony." Brian introduced his new friend to my mom.

"Hello, ma'am." Pony spoke a lot quieter than Brian. I found that odd, Brian didn't have quiet friends.

"Well Brian, why don't you introduce Pony to your sister." She said after a moment's silence.

"Don't bother." I knew Brian was ashamed of my blindness. He rarely brought friends home. When we were alone though, we got along real good. I've heard it's that way for a lot of twins, blind or not. "I'm Joy," I introduced myself, standing up from my chair. "Is Pony your real name?"

"Joy!" Mother scolded.

"Yeah," he said, I wanted to know if I upset, but I couldn't tell by his voice.

"That's cool." I ignored my mother.

"Sit, sit." My mother insisted to the boys.
At dinner, everyone was silent with the exception of my brother. He just could never shut up.

Every once in a while, Pony would laugh and make a comment. I wished he would talk more, I loved his voice. There was something musical about it.

"Joy, will you pass the rolls?" Brian asked.

I reached in front of me. I wanted to find them so badly. They were in front of me somewhere, I knew that. I probably looked like an idiot feeling around the table like that.

"Oh, never mind." Brian stood up and reached over me for the rolls.

Settling back in my chair, I accepted defeat.

"What are you going to do tonight?" Mom asked Brian.

"We're going to the nightly double. It's a movie place in town."

"I wouldn't if I were you," I told him.

"Why not?"

"It's going to rain."

"No, its not." I could tell Brian was rolling his eyes, "You're just jealous because you can't go."
They left for the movies. They shouldn't have. I knew it was going to rain, no matter what the weatherman said.

I was right. It poured about 30 minutes after they left the house.

I had to resist laughing in Brian's face when he came back, soaked.

I was always nosey. Everyones life always seemed so much more interesting than mine. I wish I hadn't been so curious than night, though.

When Dad came home, Brian told him all about his day. I was listening at the top of the stairs.

"She's so embarrassing, Dad."

"She's your sister."

"Well, she's not hanging out with my friends."

I tried to cry, but I knew I couldn't, it was impossible. My tear duct was dry, as it had been since I was 5. Instead, I went back into my room, locked the door, and opened the window. The moist air blew into my room and a few raindrops flew onto my shirt.

Curiously, I reached my hand out of my window, palm up, and caught a little water in my hand. The best I could manage, I placed a drop of the wetness on both my cheeks and let them roll down my face. I was pretty sure that didn't give me the full effect of tears, but I was satisfied.

I made the decision that night that I was going to make friends if it killed me. I didn't need any of Brian's buddy's.

After all, anyone could be better than a kid named Pony.

I don't think I have ever been more wrong in my life.

Thanks for reading. I'm really excited about this story, I've got some really cool ideas coming! Please review!